Can 150-Year-Old Printer Go High Tech?

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y.—Driven by its demanding and impatient chief executive, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. is plunging into the developing market for printed electronic components such as thin, bendable RFID antennas, sensors and batteries. But the company faces a field of competitors and challenging economics.

The 150-year-old printing giant based in Chicago is looking for growth. It forecasts that revenue will increase as much as 12.7% this year, to $11.8 billion from $10.5 billion, after growing less than 1% in 2013....